prophage

American

[proh-fayj] / ˈproʊˌfeɪdʒ /

noun

Microbiology.

a stable, inherited form of bacteriophage in which the genetic material of the virus is integrated into, replicated, and expressed with the genetic material of the bacterial host.

prophage British

/ ˈprəʊfeɪdʒ /

noun

a virus that exists in a bacterial cell and undergoes division with its host without destroying it Compare bacteriophage

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of prophage

1950–55; shortening of French probactériophage; see pro- ¹, bacteriophage

Compare meaning

How does prophage compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

prophage vs. provirus

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

prophage

This change creates two "chimeric proteins" composed of DNA from the prophage itself.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 3, 2025

Wolbachia's prophage WO genes code for proteins that interfere with normal development of sperm cells.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 7, 2024

Because when the host cell experiences unfavorable conditions, the prophage exits the genome and enters the lytic cycle.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 9, 2022

The lytic cycle can theoretically produce more virions as the prophage following lysogenic cycle ultimately gets excised from the host cell’s genome and enter the lytic cycle.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 9, 2022

The viral DNA inserts itself into the bacterial chromosome, where it is called a prophage.

From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2018

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023